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04 Jan 2012, 16:57

Hello all,

I have been preparing for the GMAT since September and sat for the exam today. I scored a 660 Q47 V34. My goal was to break 700 but I didn't accomplish that in any prep test so maybe my expectations were unrealistic. I like to be a positive person so a few bright spots on the 660: 1) I now know where I stand on an official GMAT exam. 2) Quant is decent and I think I could jump a point or 2 on the quant section. 3) This was my lowest verbal ever so it could be just a bad verbal performance but the 660 will force me to study more and master the topics.

The V34 was my lowest verbal score of any test I have taken. I don't know what happened. I was scoring in the 38-39 range on GMATprep tests and was disappointed to see the V34. I knew that before I started studying verbal was going to be my problem but was more concerned with improving my math score. The verbal scores on the practice exams were misleading because I never felt fully comfortable with the SC section and would usually get 2 or 3 wrong on each CR and RC but I figured that a V38 or V39 on the actual test day would get me close to my goal. I am going to retake the exam in a few months and would like to score above 40 on the verbal section. Since I will be studying for a retake, I figure that I might as well aim for a Q49+. I plan on doing the GMATclub tests in math to take me from Q47 to Q49+ and will revise OG12 and GMATprep tests as well. My question to this great community is what can I do to improve my verbal score? I would truly appreciate any advice. I have the Powerscore CR bible but only read 1 or 2 chapters bc I was short on time and was already decent at CR. I also have all the manhattan books and a membership to e-gmat SC which is great but I didn't properly utilize. I appoligize if this post is scattered as I just came back from the exam and have been studying for months. My brain feels like mush lol.

I'm a public accountant and my busy season is approaching so I plan on leisurely studying for 4 or 5 months and then taking the exam again in May or June. I would like to put in roughly 10 hours per week during busy season and then ramping it up for 6 weeks before the exam.

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Thanks for sharing the link and the quick response. How do you feel about the knewton online course? The 50 point guarantee seems pretty interesting. Do you think it would help alot in verbal?

Does anyone else have any advice? Has anyone else improved their verbal score alot and would like to share some tips?

Thanks,

Matt

Matt

I think you should try the e-GMAT verbal course. It's relatively cheap and is targeted at people who are stronger in quants than verbals. I attended their free sessions and found them structured and organized.

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05 Jan 2012, 08:37

I'm not personally knowledgeable on he knewton course, but I do know that the 50 pt guarantee is true. Just remember though, to be eligible for it, you have to do a lot of work! All recommended homework, and tests, etc... Most people have strong success with the course it seems, and hey, if not, you get your money back...

Specifically for verbal, I'm do not know knewtons course well enough to give advice
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05 Jan 2012, 12:00

I would recommend the MGMAT SC book. You mentioned that you have never really felt comfortable with that section and it is one part of your verbal that you could see some quick results in (I know I did).

Also, I've heard that studying LSAT RC and CR questions can help out a lot because they tend to be a little more challenging than the GMAT RC and CR questions.

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10 Jan 2012, 08:26

I am exactly on the same boat as you. I have been studying since Sept. I took my GMAT on Jan 7th and scored 660(Q47 and V34). I am planning take a couple of weeks off and then start studying again. I am planning to use e-gmat for SC and RC 99 for RC

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11 Jan 2012, 11:07

I would go on and finish reading the Powerscore CR book. I have the MGAMT set of books but for CR the Powerscore helped me immensely to improve just after I read it once. It seems that I do grasp the concepts better with their style of teaching and writing.
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